Hi Viz Wear

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kent

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Prompted by the thread about road accidents, which I don't want to hi-jack.

Please, please never ride on roads without Hi Viz.

It is not only that the Hi Viz makes you more visible.

Of equal importance - Hi Viz also tends to signify to others a situation where they should take care.

Also, Hi Viz IS needed in bright sunshine, dappled sunshine along a country lane can easily camourflage a horse and rider in neutral colours, and a low sun can dazzle.

I was dis-heartened the other day when I stopped my car and wound down the window to point out to a dark-clad rider on a bay horse, that she would be better off wearing Hi Viz. I had just come round a corner on a country lane, and I know I had travelled 20 to 30 metres before her presence on my offside verge even registered in my brain. Her response was "It's broad daylight". I just hope she thought a bit deeper afterwards.

How about more full-page "awareness" advertising from the manufacturers, suppliers, and magazines?

(Coz it hurts when I fall on tarmac, I wear a hi Viz body protector out hacking. It was "made-to-measure", so it is very comfortable, not restrictive, and keeps me warmer in winter. - I guess style, fashion and trendyness are more important to some.)
 
I agree, there was a cyclist killed in the area recently and the police advised that if they had been wearing hi-vis then it might never had happened. Same goes for horse riders, I was passed this morning while walking the dogs by a rider in navy blue from head to foot on a black horse and she just blended into the scenery, she had come down a main A road that is always busy too.
Hi vis is so inexpensive nowadays and I think that drivers are more likely to respect someone in hi vis than not that really it is only sensible to use it.
 
Totally agree with you on this one.

Just ordered some more hi-viz stuff for me and my ponio and can't wait to get it.

I won't ride out, even in broad daylight and bright sunshine, without it on.
 
I admit I have a hi viz obsession. I have even found some hi viz gaffer tape in my local DIY store so now my horses turnout rug and head collar & rope have hi viz blocks as i have to walk him down a lane to the field and i always wear my hi viz on the road.
 
I nearly hit two neds last week :( Came to to a T-junction, stopped, glanced left, looked right, started to slowly inch out then looked left again - two horses and riders! They were brown/bay and the riders were dressed in dark clothing, they just blended into the wall and hedges/trees :( Only a couple of feet away as well. I drive a Discovery, it would not have been good :( If they had had high viz on I'd have seen them at that first left glance.
 
totally agree - i use my equafleece high viz exersise rug (unless we're going out for fast work when she'll get hot - in which case we're not going on roads ;))
high viz reflective leg wraps
high viz reflective breastplate
rockfish riders 360 jacket
high viz reflactive hat band

we can be seen for miles aparently lol :D
 
I wear high viz too. Although I was driving to the yard this morning at 6.30 and on a min road. It was thick thick fog and going up a hill I was about 5 metres away when I saw 2 people riding horses, in high viz. I can't imagine what it would have been like if they hadn't been wearing any. I stopped and apologised to them but unfortunately, in thick fog, it's still pretty difficult to see us, even with high viz :(
 
Im sure someone had a dispute with her insurance company as she was not wearing hi viz when she was hit by a car, the driver did not see her.
 
I always advis epeople to wear a long sleeved high-viz jacket so that other road users can see hand signals. Also always avoid riding out when the sunlight is low and bright as it dazzles other road users sight. And of course avoid riding out in the fog or dark conditions.
 
I hack out on the roads in the same. I got a rockfish riders bright pink reflective jacket and everyone at the yard laughed at me.

The other day I managed a cheeky hack after work and though I was only had 200 yards down our country lane to then cross a B road, I knew it would be a bit dusky when I got back (even though it was only 15 or so mins). I bumped into my YM driving as I was on my way back to the yard on the lane and she said that if I hadn't been decked out in bright pink, she never would have seen me. Brown horse, dark riding gear, dusky light = no chance of standing out. I think at that point they got it.

I think some if the younger kids just don't think they look cool in hi viz. I tell them it's better than ending up in a windscreen with a dead horse on top of them.
 
See now you say the young kids dont think it's cool, but at my yard at home where we are more or less all 18-24 we all wear hi-vis regardless of whether we're going to be on the roads of just lanes. However at my uni yard where it is prodominatly older people (as in 45+) there is literally only a couple of us out of about 35 that where hi-vis....it's crazy! and they all hack a lot more frequently and further than we do at home!
 
I use as much Hi viz gear as possible, on myself and the boy.

I don't care if others choose not to wear any, that is personnal choice. Unless you ask to come with me then one rule applies - one piece of hi viz on you one your horse in case you part company - if I am in charge of the ride I need to be able to find everyone should there be an accident. If you don't like my rule you don't have to come - I'm just as happy on my own! :)


I don't do it as a fashion statement. I don't do it because I'm told to. I don't get put off because people laugh at how yellow I am (!!) or that I look like a christmas tree!!

I do it simply ............ because I love my horse. xx
 
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People have eyes and should use them when driving, its not a defence if you happen to be driving and pull out in front of a black car and then claim it was because it blended in with the road! So why should it be a defence if you almost run into a horse (in daylight!). I think there have to as many idiot riders as drivers, why for example do people wander aimlessly around blind corners, yes people drive too fast and come flying around bends and could run into the back of you so you should pre-empt the situation- listen for cars and when its clear trot purposefully around the corner until you are a suitable breaking distance beyond the corner-drivers can't see high vis through a wall!
 
Lordy100 said:
Please remember that it is personal choice, whilst I acknowledge it helps it is not yet mandatory.
Click to expand...

Not mandatory yet but my insurance company will not charge an excess if we have an accident on the road and we and the horses have hi-viz.

I think it is also very unfair not to consider the stress you could cause the car driver if there is an accident and you are not in hi-viz - it is not always easy to see a horse on the road even in bright sunlight.

I won't ride out if the sun is low, especially if the road is wet, as it can be very difficult to see anything if you are in a car.

We go out in hi-viz: tabards/jackets, hat band, leg wraps on all four horse legs, tail clip and with an exercise sheet if it is not too warm.

My view is that I would rather hack out looking like a Christmas Tree than be in A&E - or worse.
 
Completely agree. My horse does not choose to go on the roads, so it is my responsibility to make it as safe as possible for him.

As a driver I get quite annoyed when I see riders without hi-viz.
 
Tabard for me, neckband, tailguard and sometimes reflective brushing boots for Belle. I would like to get a reflective exercise sheet next winter and perhaps one of the mesh ones for the summer.

As Belle is grey, all our high viz is pink. :D
 
I agree, would never leave without it, if we ever hack in a large group i have 6 reflective vests (bare minimum for anyone!)
Like has already been said horses dont chose to go on the roads we do therefore it's our responsability.
I know the drivers must take responsability too but as a driver i have been driving (slowly) around country lanes and before you know it two horses and dark coloured riders appear out of no where!! Sometimes we are hard to see and its our job to make our ponio's safe, if they could im sure they would!!!!
 
Couldn't agree more. Drives me mad when riders and cyclists go out without hi viz on. We always wear, as a minimum, a hi viz vest for the rider and leg wraps all round on horse. In winter I use an equisafety wrap round rug and have just ordered one of these for summer use: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Parsons-Rump-...tZUK_Horse_Wear_Equipment?hash=item27b0506e81

To the point about drivers being responsible for seeing horses and black cars. Black cars are actually more likely to be involved in an accident than a white car (statistical significance found. Increased risk over a white car 12 % in daylight, 47 % at dusk http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc263.pdf). Even so, I think a car, given its size, speed, shiny bits on the front etc is still a damn sight easier to spot than a horse!

I don't think there is any excuse not to wear hi viz.
 
I would NEVER set hoof on the road with out being fully decked out in Hi vis and that means me AND my horse so that if I fall off at least he'll be galloping down the road and be seen! Fingers crossed that doesn't happen :eek:

I know someone who had trouble with her insurance company because she was on a dark bay horse who just 'blended' with the hedge and neither her or the horse had hi vis on. Better safe than sorry I'd say and a small price to pay for your safety and that of your horse.

www.nalod-equestrian.co.uk
 
I think the high vis situation may improve (though the roads are getting worse!), as all the young girls at my yard have worn high-vis from the very beginning, so they don't really think about it being unfashionable just a necessity. The same applies with BP - they have all worn them from the start so don't ride without them. If I put on a BP it feels horrid - however I always wear high-vis.

I was actually just looking for a new high-vis...maybe people can help me? I have just bought a youngster and so was thinking of having a young horse tabard - do these work or do they implicate me if things go wrong?

I love the look of the POLITE tabards but seem pretty steep at £22(ish).
 
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